Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - CREATIVE ADVERTISING (TOP-UP)
BNU's course reflects the realities of working as a professional in the industry. Everything you do on the course is working towards you getting your first job in the sector. If you have completed a foundation-level degree, HND, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant Art and Design subject, you can choose to top-up your studies to gain a full bachelor’s degree.
You bring a curious mind. That way you have with words. A unique art directional style. BNU will bring 30-years’ experience as the UK’s top advertising course and a teaching army of advertising gurus both past and present. Together we’ll turn raw talent into a clever thinking idea machine, a future advertising star.
Why study this subject?
On this creative advertising course, we have a reputation for nurturing creative individuals able to think on their feet and adapt to an industry in a constant state of change.
BNU will encourage you to experiment and push your ideas and gain in confidence when taking risks. You'll have every opportunity to improve your skills and not worry about getting things wrong. Making mistakes is an important part of the creative process.
You’ll only be taught by agency professionals both as dedicated tutors and visiting guests. They will help develop you as individuals, helping you think in different ways and voice your opinions for effect. You will gain a better understanding of people and gain insights into how they think, behave and act.
You will learn to apply creative problem-solving to create targeted and innovative communications and solutions to a diversity of briefs. Above all you will develop as a creative thinker and problem solver.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
Why does this little part of England produce so many heavyweight creative superstars?
Is it the great facilities, a course that perfectly mixes practical skills, creative challenges and marketing insights, taught by tutors with decades of advertising experience?
Is it the army of alumni students, the BNU Mafia as they are affectionately known as, who constantly return to give tutorials, workshops, mentoring, advice, placements, internships and jobs?
Is it its location, only 40 minutes from the hustle and bustle of one of the worlds’ most exciting adland communities, London?
Who knows, but for the last 25 years its students have constantly created great campaigns that have won awards, who’ve then gone on to create the next generation of advertising history, both at home and aboard.
The course sets about developing you as individuals, helping you to think in different ways and voice your opinions for effect. Above all you will develop as a creative thinker and problem solver. To aid your development you will learn practical skills and experience both digital and traditional processes and technologies. These range from Adobe Creative Suite to letterpress and silkscreen printing. Photography and film making are integral to most things we do.
You will learn to apply creative problem-solving to create targeted and innovative communications and solutions to a diversity of briefs. You will gain a better understanding of people and gain insights into how they think, behave and act.
Students are also encouraged to get involved with industry awards, including D&AD New Blood Awards and Young Creative Network Awards. All this adds to the employability of our students. 2022 saw our students bring home two D&AD New Blood Pencils.
You’ll also benefit from our mentor scheme, MyMentor, where, every 3rd year now gets a working mentor, usually a BNU alumni, who are currently employed in a top agency. They are tailored to each students chosen creative discipline, copywriter, art director, creative team, planning, or digital. They will work with you to help shape your book, teach you interview techniques to use, and how to negotiate agency networking.
What facilities can you use?
The Creative Advertising course is a completely diverse area. Because of this BNU's Creative Advertising students have access to a range of their facilities, including Photography studios, Film and TV equipment, Screen Printing facilities, Letterpress machines and Mac suites.
What will you study?
BNU has a reputation for nurturing creative individuals, able to think on their feet and adapt to an industry in a constant state of change. You'll have every opportunity to improve your skills and not worry about getting things wrong. Making mistakes is all part of the creative process. BNU encourage you to experiment and push your ideas and gain in confidence when taking risks. Their course reflects the realities of working as a professional in industry. Everything you do on the course is working towards you getting your first job in the sector
To achieve the full BA (Hons) in Creative Advertising you will need to complete a major project, dissertation as well as complete the Agency module.
The major project and dissertation will allow you to investigate a topic important to you within creative advertising. You will cover the whole research process, undertaking empirical investigation and analysis. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor, who will offer support and advice.
The ‘Agency’ module gives you the opportunity to undertake work-based experiences or answer live briefs, gaining the practical and transferable skills you need for your career in the creative industries.
Working in advertising opens many doors. Ad agencies are made up of a bustling team, not just designers and creative, but strategists, writers, human resource and PR - each and every person is a valued member of the team. We have a very high employability rate with students heading straight into work. Many graduates have been selected direct from graduation.
How will I be taught and assessed?
The Creative Advertising course is a successful collaboration between education and industry, and staff are always using their connections to ensure students get to engage with the best creatives and strategists.
You’ll be involved in a range of:
- Live briefs;
- Agency visits;
- Crits;
- Industry focused modules.
What are your career prospects?
Only talent, personality and timing will land you a job or a choice placement. However, being a BNU student will certainly help to get your foot in the door.
These are some of the Agencies that current and former BNU Graduates have been part of: Saatchi & Saatchi, 180 Amsterdam (now 180 Kingsday), Droga5, TBWA, Havas Work Club, WCRS, BBC , Brothers & Sisters, The Brooklyn Brothers NYC, Creature London.
Throughout your time with Buckinghamshier New University they’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. They will help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. They also help you find employment after graduation.
BNU's BA (Hons) Creative Advertising (Top-up) course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:
- Creative
- Copywriter
- Art Director
- Designer
- Planner
- Strategist
- Graphic Designer
- Producer
- Marketing Officer
- Social Media Executive.
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.